If you've been battling sharp pain along the outside of your foot, especially if it travels up through your hip or IT band, you’re not alone. At Chiappetta Shoes, we see this type of issue all the time, and in our recent Workshop Live episode, Tony shared the story of a customer with a classic C9 foot type who had been dealing with this pain for years.

She had tried everything. Custom orthotics, premium running shoes, you name it. But nothing truly worked.

Until now.

The C9 foot type is characterized by a rigid foot structure and medium to high arches. These feet tend to roll outward, a condition called supination, which places excess stress on the outer edge of the foot, typically right around the fifth metatarsal base. That stress can radiate upward, causing discomfort in the hip, knee, and IT band.

For this customer, the pain was persistent, especially on the outside of the left foot, and extended all the way into her hip. Despite wearing well-known orthotics and supportive Brooks Ghost sneakers, the problem hadn’t improved.

Tony’s approach focused on one thing: supporting the foot’s natural mechanics, without forcing it into a shape it can’t handle. Here’s how he did it:

1.  Contour Over Cushion

We’re conditioned to believe soft equals supportive. But that’s not always true, especially for rigid feet. Tony’s mantra: "Contour is king, not cushion."

C9 foot types often don’t respond well to overly cushioned shoes because they lack the structural support needed to guide proper motion. Thick soles and soft foams can mask alignment issues rather than correct them.

2.  Heel Height: The Small Fix That Makes a Big Difference

One of the breakthrough moments came when Tony adjusted her heel height. Just a 1.5mm lift made a noticeable impact on alignment and comfort.

• He used a firm, bouncy Eco Cell wedge, which supports without collapsing.

• Instead of a simple heel lift, he created a gradual ramp starting just past the navicular, encouraging smoother motion from heel to toe.

This helped reduce strain on her lateral foot and hip by subtly shifting her posture.

3. Cuboid Bar: Targeted Support for Supination

A key modification was the addition of a cuboid bar under the outer midfoot.

• It reduces excess supination by preventing the heel from rotating outward too much.

• It also stimulates the peroneal nerve, which tells the body to stabilize that outer edge naturally.

Tony used a firm cork material to give the right level of response without bulk.

4. Avoiding Overcorrection

The goal wasn’t to fix her foot shape, it was to work with it. Other orthotics she had tried were too aggressive, pushing her into uncomfortable positions.

By accommodating her rigid structure instead of fighting it, we finally found the relief she had been looking for.

• Too much cushion can cause instability - you need support, not softness.

• Small heel lifts can make a big impact - especially when paired with the right orthotic.

• Cuboid bars beat lateral wedges for controlling outward rolling without adding knee or leg strain.

• Every foot is different - Even with the same foot type, custom solutions matter.

• Test and tweak - Finding the right orthotic often means trying multiple configurations.

If you suspect you have a C9 foot type, or you’ve been dealing with similar pain on the outer edge of your foot, hips, or IT band, we’re here to help. At Chiappetta Shoes, we offer free in-person assessments and craft every orthotic custom in-house . No cookie-cutter inserts. Just personalized, thoughtful solutions based on your foot structure and pain patterns.